bleached horn
This is a follow up to my post a while back about an experiment with bleached horn, supplied by Peter Cua. I found the bleached horn, white as well as black, had similar stiffness (modulus) to unbleached horn. Once bleached according to Peter's secret process (I wish I knew how?), white horn turns amber coloured, black turns brown.
I continued with the experiment and made a bow using the bleached strips. The bow was succesful, although one of the white strips broke during processing which seems to indicate the bleaching caused degradation in tensile strength (not needed in a finished bow). Lacking a second white strip, I used a black strip for one of the limbs. The bow is 41.5in ntn, and 65lb at 26in draw. Pictures below, also with the bow partly drawn. Do not be alarmed by the lack of recurvature - this type of tiller was common in Turkish bows too. I hope my wife will like the bow once I reduce the weight to a more manageable 40lb or so. The bow, as is, shoots fast.
I particularly like the amber coloured horns. This resembles the colour of horn on an old bow dated from the 18th c. I wonder if the bleaching process could be known at the time?
The experiment worked. The bleached horns can be used on a bow, but may require more care in shaping. Thanks for the horns, Peter!
Adam
I continued with the experiment and made a bow using the bleached strips. The bow was succesful, although one of the white strips broke during processing which seems to indicate the bleaching caused degradation in tensile strength (not needed in a finished bow). Lacking a second white strip, I used a black strip for one of the limbs. The bow is 41.5in ntn, and 65lb at 26in draw. Pictures below, also with the bow partly drawn. Do not be alarmed by the lack of recurvature - this type of tiller was common in Turkish bows too. I hope my wife will like the bow once I reduce the weight to a more manageable 40lb or so. The bow, as is, shoots fast.
I particularly like the amber coloured horns. This resembles the colour of horn on an old bow dated from the 18th c. I wonder if the bleaching process could be known at the time?
The experiment worked. The bleached horns can be used on a bow, but may require more care in shaping. Thanks for the horns, Peter!
Adam
Another picture of the bow.
Maybe he bleach horn with hidrogen-peroxide (H2O2). That is what people use for hair coloring. It doesn't ruin hair.
Adam,
this is a beatiful bow. I think the bow looks very unique in its shape. I wonder why you chose to not put in a more recurved sal/kasan. Do you have pictures of the old bow dated from the 18th c.?
this is a beatiful bow. I think the bow looks very unique in its shape. I wonder why you chose to not put in a more recurved sal/kasan. Do you have pictures of the old bow dated from the 18th c.?
Many old bows have a ceratin type of tiller which can be seen by measuring the thickness of sal along the length. In these bows, usually with slightly shorter kasan, there is a gradual taper towards the kasan with the thinnest place very close to it. This results in bows of the shape as here, because the kasa/sal junction bends more. Such bow has a little less stress in the limbs, but will stack a couple of inches earlier in the draw. The typical C-reflex in te unstrung position is siilar as in other bows.
I think people often confuse reflex in an unstrung bow, with reflex in a strung/drawn one. One does not necessarily follow the other.
Adam
I think people often confuse reflex in an unstrung bow, with reflex in a strung/drawn one. One does not necessarily follow the other.
Adam
Adam Karpowicz,
have you got a better photo of the full drwan and once of the unstrung bow ? :D
have you got a better photo of the full drwan and once of the unstrung bow ? :D